Holiday Visa's from UK

MrsT · Oct 17th, 2007, 04:08

~We have been visiting Goa for the last 15 years,

This year it has been an absolute pain to get a holiday visa.
You now either have to travel to London/Birmingham etc. or pay an Agent,there are no postal visa's and this makes it very expensive for a family.

Does Goa want the Tourists? We feel that this year, people have booked their holidays so they cannot get a refund on their holiday insurance - but will they holiday in Goa next year if they have to go through all the expense of obtaining an Indian visa via an Agent or going in person to London, and then be told to come back in X amount of days - having to pay hotel bills etc.

Going through an agent would at least cost us £80 more, visiting London over £25O, and we holiday in Goa twice a year.

Just look at http://www.tripadvisor.com/showForum...dolim_Goa.html
http:www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?F=60

Nick-H · Oct 17th, 2007, 05:37

Would appreciate it if you could give links to the comments, rather than just those two site, please?

But yes, it is a fiasco and a disgrace.

I've been smelling "consultants" ever since I first heard the no-more-postal-visa thing; then came the outsourcing....

I wonder how much they got paid to screw up a good service?

ColinT · Oct 17th, 2007, 06:10

I'm hoping to get this fiasco publicised in the Indian press. In 1996, the Ministry of Tourism reported 2.3 million arrivals to India. In 2005, the inbound tourist count was 4.2 million and was expected to cross 5.5 million in 2006. What is more, 8% tourism growth per annum is predicted between 2007 and 2016.The Ministry of Tourism is trying to boost the number of foreign tourists visiting India by promoting India abroad. What a complete waste of time if the visa service isn't capable of doing its job.

It used to be a very efficient service, whether by post or in person. What a mess!

What will be the outcome of the visa fiasco in England if it persists. Well, people will be deterred from visiting India. They will also have to cancel flights or holidays and lose money in the process (I could lose £300). I thought the Ministry of Tourism was trying to encourage tourism. The visa issuing authority seems hell bent on discouraging tourists from visiting, at least those who do not live in London or Birmingham and have to travel half way across the country to stand in the queue from 5.30 am or sleep on the pavement overnight. Who is responsible for this? I’m sure that many disgruntled, frustrated and inconvenienced people would love to know.

Morocco will give me a three month visa on arrival. Thailand will give me two months on arrival. Nepal recently gave me two months also. Getting to India is becoming increasingly more difficult. India’s loss will be Thailand/Morocco/Nepal’s (etc) gain if its visa service fails to get its act together.

wonderwomanusa · Oct 17th, 2007, 06:17

Does Goa want the Tourists?

Although I realize Goa is your destination, it's not the Goanese who run the visa operation, it's the Government of India who issure the rules for visas, so your quarrel is with them.

goangoangone · Oct 17th, 2007, 08:23

You can get visas cheaply through agents. Look here http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...#post5 425967

MrsT · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinT

I'm hoping to get this fiasco publicised in the Indian press. In 1996, the Ministry of Tourism reported 2.3 million arrivals to India. In 2005, the inbound tourist count was 4.2 million and was expected to cross 5.5 million in 2006. What is more, 8% tourism growth per annum is predicted between 2007 and 2016.The Ministry of Tourism is trying to boost the number of foreign tourists visiting India by promoting India abroad. What a complete waste of time if the visa service isn't capable of doing its job.

It used to be a very efficient service, whether by post or in person. What a mess!

What will be the outcome of the visa fiasco in England if it persists. Well, people will be deterred from visiting India. They will also have to cancel flights or holidays and lose money in the process (I could lose £300). I thought the Ministry of Tourism was trying to encourage tourism. The visa issuing authority seems hell bent on discouraging tourists from visiting, at least those who do not live in London or Birmingham and have to travel half way across the country to stand in the queue from 5.30 am or sleep on the pavement overnight. Who is responsible for this? I’m sure that many disgruntled, frustrated and inconvenienced people would love to know.

Morocco will give me a three month visa on arrival. Thailand will give me two months on arrival. Nepal recently gave me two months also. Getting to India is becoming increasingly more difficult. India’s loss will be Thailand/Morocco/Nepal’s (etc) gain if its visa service fails to get its act together.

Hi Colin

Absolutely agree with you - if you read the threads I have highlighted at the start, you will see how many people are
saying India will be a no, no next year. I wonder if other
countries get this trouble with Indian Visa's.

A day trip from home would cost one of us £150 to get to London and now you take a "ticket" for days in advance before you are eligible to get to the counter to apply for a Visa,
accommodation and meals have to be paid for. Some Agencies are now saying 2/3 weeks turn around - so the last minute holiday booker will have no chance. The more money a family has to spend on obtaining a Visa the less they have spend in Goa/India,

patti123 · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:18

I am not going to Goa till Feb 08 so i am hoping it will be sorted out by then. I think cause the season starts in Nov there are going to be so many angry people trying to get visas, that they will have to change the way they are doing it now.
I am glad i didnt book Nov as no way am i going to sleep on a pavement from 3am in the morning

ColinT · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:22

Let's hope you are right Patti. Too late for me by then. If I don't sort something out quickly then its goodbye to £300. And even if you do sleep on the pavement, you may still only get a token asking you to return at a leter date!

MrsT · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by patti123

I am not going to Goa till Feb 08 so i am hoping it will be sorted out by then. I think cause the season starts in Nov there are going to be so many angry people trying to get visas, that they will have to change the way they are doing it now.
I am glad i didnt book Nov as no way am i going to sleep on a pavement from 3am in the morning

Patti - if you are only going for a few weeks, I would send to an Agency now - January/February are the busiest months, the visa's last six months.

MrsT · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinT

Let's hope you are right Patti. Too late for me by then. If I don't sort something out quickly then its goodbye to £300. And even if you do sleep on the pavement, you may still only get a token asking you to return at a leter date!

Colin, have read that holiday insurance does not cover the visa situation - as we are supposed to obtain a visa before booking a holiday

. Another one of their little peculiarities. (Not that people do)

ColinT · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:36

Yes, I've always had my ticket prior to getting my visa (probably 18 times!) with no problems. I guess that's the case for the vast majority of people. Finally caught up with me. I'm even thinking of going to Thailand to the the visa! But then again, who knows what the situation is at the embassy in Bangkok.

MrsT · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinT

Yes, I've always had my ticket prior to getting my visa (probably 18 times!) with no problems. I guess that's the case for the vast majority of people. Finally caught up with me. I'm even thinking of going to Thailand to the the visa! But then again, who knows what the situation is at the embassy in Bangkok.

Some of the visa embassy's in other countries don't want to know at present

patti123 · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:50

ColinT i think the BBC news should go down to the consulate and film young girls sleeping rough in Oct to get a Indian visa !
I feel really sorry for those going in Nov as the only way to get a visa sems to be to sleep on the pavement, and not take no for a answer when they say come back in 2 weeks.Whats the charter flights say on this ? cause no one is going to book a holiday to India if they cant get a visa !
I am going in Feb for 3-4 months i am hoping that it would have all been sorted out by then .But knowing how the Indians work especially that this new way of getting visas is coming from Delhi i dont hold out much hope.

ColinT · Oct 17th, 2007, 15:55

You are right Patti. I think the utmost pressure should be put on those responsible for this. I'm going to try to contact the BBC. I'm also hoping to get my article on this published in the Indian press. I don't know about young girls sleeping rough ( no evidence of this) but overall it is a disgrace.

patti123 · Oct 17th, 2007, 17:06

I wouldnt put your name on anything you write in the Indian press .A friend wrote a article in the Goan newspaper and when her x visa was due up <2 years ago> they didnt give her it .At the moment as every one knows no one is getting their x visas renewed in goa .

I dont know if it was this web site or the lonely planet web site but 1 young girl said she going sleep rough from 3.30am to get her Visa.

Oct 17th, 2007, 04:08	#1
MrsT Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 23	Holiday Visa's from UK ~We have been visiting Goa for the last 15 years, This year it has been an absolute pain to get a holiday visa. You now either have to travel to London/Birmingham etc. or pay an Agent,there are no postal visa's and this makes it very expensive for a family. Does Goa want the Tourists? We feel that this year, people have booked their holidays so they cannot get a refund on their holiday insurance - but will they holiday in Goa next year if they have to go through all the expense of obtaining an Indian visa via an Agent or going in person to London, and then be told to come back in X amount of days - having to pay hotel bills etc. Going through an agent would at least cost us £80 more, visiting London over £25O, and we holiday in Goa twice a year. Just look at http://www.tripadvisor.com/showForum...dolim_Goa.html http:www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?F=60 Last edited by MrsT : Oct 17th, 2007 at 14:43. Reason: as requested by Mr. Moderator

Oct 17th, 2007, 05:37	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,854	Would appreciate it if you could give links to the comments, rather than just those two site, please? But yes, it is a fiasco and a disgrace. I've been smelling "consultants" ever since I first heard the no-more-postal-visa thing; then came the outsourcing.... I wonder how much they got paid to screw up a good service? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Oct 17th, 2007, 08:23	#5
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,499	You can get visas cheaply through agents. Look here http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...#post5 425967 __________________ GoanGoan......here

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Oct 17th, 2007, 06:10	#3
ColinT Future Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Posts: 335	I'm hoping to get this fiasco publicised in the Indian press. In 1996, the Ministry of Tourism reported 2.3 million arrivals to India. In 2005, the inbound tourist count was 4.2 million and was expected to cross 5.5 million in 2006. What is more, 8% tourism growth per annum is predicted between 2007 and 2016.The Ministry of Tourism is trying to boost the number of foreign tourists visiting India by promoting India abroad. What a complete waste of time if the visa service isn't capable of doing its job. It used to be a very efficient service, whether by post or in person. What a mess! What will be the outcome of the visa fiasco in England if it persists. Well, people will be deterred from visiting India. They will also have to cancel flights or holidays and lose money in the process (I could lose £300). I thought the Ministry of Tourism was trying to encourage tourism. The visa issuing authority seems hell bent on discouraging tourists from visiting, at least those who do not live in London or Birmingham and have to travel half way across the country to stand in the queue from 5.30 am or sleep on the pavement overnight. Who is responsible for this? I’m sure that many disgruntled, frustrated and inconvenienced people would love to know. Morocco will give me a three month visa on arrival. Thailand will give me two months on arrival. Nepal recently gave me two months also. Getting to India is becoming increasingly more difficult. India’s loss will be Thailand/Morocco/Nepal’s (etc) gain if its visa service fails to get its act together.

Oct 17th, 2007, 06:17	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,510	Does Goa want the Tourists? Although I realize Goa is your destination, it's not the Goanese who run the visa operation, it's the Government of India who issure the rules for visas, so your quarrel is with them.

Oct 17th, 2007, 15:18	#7
patti123 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 416	I am not going to Goa till Feb 08 so i am hoping it will be sorted out by then. I think cause the season starts in Nov there are going to be so many angry people trying to get visas, that they will have to change the way they are doing it now. I am glad i didnt book Nov as no way am i going to sleep on a pavement from 3am in the morning

Oct 17th, 2007, 15:22	#8
ColinT Future Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Posts: 335	Let's hope you are right Patti. Too late for me by then. If I don't sort something out quickly then its goodbye to £300. And even if you do sleep on the pavement, you may still only get a token asking you to return at a leter date!

Oct 17th, 2007, 15:36	#11
ColinT Future Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Posts: 335	Yes, I've always had my ticket prior to getting my visa (probably 18 times!) with no problems. I guess that's the case for the vast majority of people. Finally caught up with me. I'm even thinking of going to Thailand to the the visa! But then again, who knows what the situation is at the embassy in Bangkok.

Oct 17th, 2007, 15:50	#13
patti123 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 416	ColinT i think the BBC news should go down to the consulate and film young girls sleeping rough in Oct to get a Indian visa ! I feel really sorry for those going in Nov as the only way to get a visa sems to be to sleep on the pavement, and not take no for a answer when they say come back in 2 weeks.Whats the charter flights say on this ? cause no one is going to book a holiday to India if they cant get a visa ! I am going in Feb for 3-4 months i am hoping that it would have all been sorted out by then .But knowing how the Indians work especially that this new way of getting visas is coming from Delhi i dont hold out much hope.

Oct 17th, 2007, 15:55	#14
ColinT Future Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Posts: 335	You are right Patti. I think the utmost pressure should be put on those responsible for this. I'm going to try to contact the BBC. I'm also hoping to get my article on this published in the Indian press. I don't know about young girls sleeping rough ( no evidence of this) but overall it is a disgrace.

Oct 17th, 2007, 17:06	#15
patti123 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 416	I wouldnt put your name on anything you write in the Indian press .A friend wrote a article in the Goan newspaper and when her x visa was due up <2 years ago> they didnt give her it .At the moment as every one knows no one is getting their x visas renewed in goa . I dont know if it was this web site or the lonely planet web site but 1 young girl said she going sleep rough from 3.30am to get her Visa.

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